Program: Master of Public Administration - Seattle University

Mar 31, 2025

2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Degree Requirements:

The MPA requires the completion of 57 credits. The degree includes eleven Required courses and three courses in an Area of Emphasis. The remaining five courses are electives designed to enrich each student’s understanding of particular aspects of public service and deal with topics such as local government, geographic information systems, leadership, social justice, and strategic planning.

I. Required Courses (33)

PUBM 5010 - Foundations of Public Administration 3 credit hours
PUBM 5100 - Economic Analysis 3 credit hours
PUBM 5110 - Understanding Organizations 3 credit hours
PUBM 5120 - Policy Process 3 credit hours
PUBM 5200 - Diversity and Social Justice in Workplace 3 credit hours
PUBM 5220 - Human Resource Management 3 credit hours
PUBM 5300 - Budgeting and Financial Management 3 credit hours
PUBM 5430 - Research Design 3 credit hours
PUBM 5440 - Applied Data Analysis 3 credit hours
PUBM 5600 - Ethics and Society 3 credit hours
PUBM 5900 - Capstone in the Public Service 3 credit hours

II. Area of Emphasis Courses (9)

Students must complete an Area of Emphasis in government or nonprofit. Students complete the government emphasis by taking PUBM 5410, 5710, and 5720. Students complete the nonprofit emphasis by taking PUBM 5860, 5870, and 5880.

Government Emphasis

PUBM 5410 - Policy Analysis 3 credit hours
PUBM 5710 - Government Finance 3 credit hours
PUBM 5720 - Administrative Law 3 credit hours

Nonprofit Emphasis

PUBM 5860 - Nonprofit Sector in Society 3 credit hours
PUBM 5870 - Nonprofit Resource Development 3 credit hours
PUBM 5880 - Nonprofit Governance 3 credit hours

III. Program Electives (15)

Choose electives from the following, as well as any courses not chosen to satisfy Area II above:

PUBM 5130 - Behavioral Economics and Public Policy 3 credit hours
PUBM 5140 - Campaigns and Elections 3 credit hours
PUBM 5210 - Management and Human Relations Skills 3 credit hours
PUBM 5310 - Public Budgeting 3 credit hours
PUBM 5450 - GIS for Public Administrators 3 credit hours
PUBM 5510 - Global Health 3 credit hours
PUBM 5550 - Collaboration Across Sectors 3 credit hours
PUBM 5620 - Oral Communication for Administrators 3 credit hours
PUBM 5630 - Communication and Advocacy 3 credit hours
PUBM 5740 - Social Justice and Social Policy 3 credit hours
PUBM 5750 - Introduction to City Management 3 credit hours
PUBM 5860 - Nonprofit Sector in Society 3 credit hours
PUBM 5910 - Special Topics 1 to 3 credit hours
PUBM 5950 - Internship 1 to 6 credit hours (CR/F)
PUBM 5960 - Independent Study 1 to 6 credit hours (CR/F)
Other Graduate Program Courses (see advisor)